Authoritative source of information on Psychological Operations (PSYOP) or as it is now called Military Information Support Operations (MISO). Written by a retired senior Army Officer and former Honorary Colonel of the PSYOP Regiment.

The OpEd is concerned with the US DOD
treatment of journalists. It is more or less implied that journalists provide a
vital and Constitutionaly protected service by informing US citizens about what
their military is doing.

While I haven’t read the Manual, I will
make the assumption that the Manual is trying to provide ‘guidance’ for OPSEC
purposes, not to muzzle the press.

We all realize that careless reporting,
like careless use of Social Media can have dire consequences in combat and it’s
always useful to have a source to help justify actions.

Unfortunately I have to characterize
the Gray Lady’s piece as a knee jerk, out of context, arm-waving diatribe.

However, the point of this posting is
not to critique the piece, but rather cause a pause in the ‘community’.

Our world is outside the US. MISO take
place outside the US and are addressed to foreign audiences. Of necessity foreign
audiences include foreign journalists.

Public Affairs is the lead organization
for working with foreign media and there is absolutely no question that this is
the case. MISO often needs to optimize foreign media support for the CDR’s
goals and operations.

MISO often functions as an advertiser
in foreign media and can retain writers and journalists in foreign markets to
develop work in foreign media that supports the CDR. In some cases this may
rise to the level where MISO becomes the champion of selected foreign media to
help them get the support they need to tell our story.

One of the elements missing in the OpEd
is that most overseas operations are not undertaken by the US alone. General
McChrystal noted 46 countries taking part in Afghanistan. Not having deployed
recently – I look to y’all to advise whether or not the US rules for
journalists was the SOP for Coalition forces and to comment on whether the
Coalition partners all followed the US rules or if they took certain liberties
either with their own national media or ‘favored’ foreign media.